Virginia Middle School Engineering Education Initiative
Save the Penguins: An Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
Heat things up in your physical science class with this interactive lesson series on thermodynamics. Through a series of class demonstrations and experiments, young scientists learn how heat is transferred through conduction,...
Teach Engineering
Efficiency of a Water Heating System
Tired of waiting for hot water? Groups of three determine the efficiency of an electric water-heating device. They calculate the amount of energy it takes to heat the water and the theoretical amount of energy required to heat the water....
Urbana School District
Thermodynamics
Entropy, it isn't what it used to be. Presentation includes kinetic-molecular theory, heat and internal energy, thermal equilibrium, temperature scales, laws of thermodynamics, entropy, latent heat of fusion, specific heat, calorimetry,...
Curated OER
Energy and Work: Transformation through Engines
Students are introduced to the concept of thermodynamics. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they discover how potential energy converts into kinetic energy. They use the internet to research the components of a...
Curated OER
Temperature and Thermal Energy
Examine how heat can be transferred between systems by reconstructing a diagram on energy flow and solving problems on heat flow and work done.
Teach Engineering
Energy Efficiency
Using the resource is probably the most efficient way to learn about efficiency. The 18th installment of a 25-part Energy Systems and Solutions unit has pupils investigate energy efficiency through discussions and associated activities....
Curated OER
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Students investigate the concept of a thermodynamic system. The difference between a state and phase is defined as part of the experimental explanations given in writing. Students conduct experiments to demonstrate laws of science like...
Curated OER
Considerations in Heating a Home
Emerging engineers discover how important it is to conserve energy as fossil fuel supplies are being diminished. This is accomplished by working through a handout that explains energy requirements for heating a home during the winter....
Curated OER
Travel Mug Design
Students create and develop a travel mug. They create visuals and a three dimensional infomercial. They apply an engineering design and demonstrate knowledge of thermodynamics involved in heat transfer. They illustrate Newton's Law of...
Curated OER
Thermal Energy and Heat Unit
Students explain that heat energy in a material consists of the disordered motions of its atoms or molecules. They know and explain that transformations of energy usually transform some energy into the form of heat, which dissipates by...
Curated OER
Heat Unit
Students define thermal equilibrium. They distinguish between internal energy and heat. Students describe how the quantity of heat that enters or leaves a substance is measured.
Curated OER
Energy and Work: Transformation Through Engines
Students conduct a webquest on an energy source they chose. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to determine the factors affecting potential and kinetic energy. They calculate speed and create distance vs. time graphs.
Curated OER
Energetic Energy: A Child?s Guide to Responsible Energy Use
Students explore how energy transforms into heat. In this energy lesson students create models and find a need for fuel to make a Stirling engine.
Curated OER
Water Into Gas
Students investigate how temperature and pressure cause a material to change phase. They heat water to reclaim a gas. They demonstrate that different liquids evaporate at different temperatures.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Power Systems & Efficiency
Are you looking for a reading resource about the efficiency of power systems? Here is one that introduces the output/input ratio, measurement of energy by joules or calories, and efficiency ratings. For STEM classes that are learning...
Curated OER
Beyond Science?: New Energy Age
Students explore, examine, experiment and study the energy believed to exist in the vacuum of space called zero-point energy. They design and build a machine and then place their machines to test zero-pointed energy into a competition.
Curated OER
Alternative Energy
Students identify the five major alternative energy sources. In this physical science lesson, students assess the advantages and disadvantages for each type of energy. They complete a concept map using information they researched.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Heat Engine
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will learn about heat engines, explore pressure volume diagrams, and figure how to calculate ideal efficiencies of heat engines.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat Engines and Their Efficiency
In this section of the textbook, learn about the second law of thermodynamics and how it relates to the function of heat engine. Section will also explain how to calculate net work and efficiency of cyclical processes such as a heat...
Simon Fraser University
Chem1 Virtual Textbook: What Is a Heat Engine and Why Should You Care?
With an overview of topics related to chemical equilibrium, this site provides a foundation to a study of thermodynamics and heat engines. Other topics covered include the fall of heat, nuclear plants, and more.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat and Thermodynamics
Georgia State University Physics Department privides an incredibly thorough treatment of the laws of thermodynamics. Multiple pages; many informative graphics; opportunities to practice problems and receive immediate feedback.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat Engines and Their Efficiency
By the end of this section, you will be able to state the expressions of the second law of thermodynamics; calculate the efficiency and carbon dioxide emission of a coal-fired electricity plant, using second law characteristics; and...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Engine Cycle
The heat engine cycle is defined and discussed. So pressure-volume diagrams are introduced and their use in depicting the cycles of a heat engine is demonstrated. Informative graphics are accompanied by reason-filled explanations.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Engine Concepts
An indexing page for the HyperPhysics site. The page contains a concept map of links to a variety of other pages which discuss concepts related to heat engines. All pages contain informative graphics and excellent explanations.